Method of treating septic shock using thymosin β4

Abstract

A method of treating septic shock in a mammal including the administration of a septic shock-treating effective amount of thymosin beta 4 (T beta 4) to the mammal. Included is a process directed to obstructing the progression of sepsis cascade by administration of a sepsis cascade progression-obstructing amount of T beta 4. Further included is a process directed to preventing septic shock by administration of a septic shock-preventing effective amount of T beta 4.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of obstructing progression of a sepsis cascade in a mammal in which a sepsis cascade is occurring, comprising administering to said mammal a sepsis cascade progression-obstructing amount of thymosin β 4  (Tβ 4 ). 
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1, wherein said mammal is human. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 2, wherein the Tβ 4  is administered at a dosage from about 0.4 to about 4 mg per kg of body weight of said human. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 2, wherein the Tβ 4  is administered at a dosage from about 1 to about 4 mg per kg of body weight of said human. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 3, wherein the Tβ 4  is administered parenterally. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 5, wherein the Tβ 4  is administered intravenously. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 1, wherein the Tβ 4  is synthetic Tβ 4 . 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 1, wherein said amount of Tβ 4  is sufficient to reverse in said mammal at least one member selected from the group consisting of increased cerebellar cGMP levels, increased blood malonyldialdehyde levels, decreased blood glutathione levels, increased blood PAF levels, increased blood T×β 2  levels, increased blood 6-keto-PGF 1  α levels, increased blood IL-1α levels and increased blood TNFα levels. 
     
     
       9. A method of preventing septic shock from occurring in a mammal following endotoxin introduction in said mammal, comprising administering to said mammal a septic shock-preventing effective amount of Tβ 4 , so as to prevent septic shock in said mammal. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9 wherein septic shock is prevented in said mammal for at least 120 hours after administration of said Tβ 4 . 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 9 wherein septic shock is prevented in said mammal for at least 14 days after administration of said Tβ 4 . 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 9 wherein said mammal is human. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 12, wherein the Tβ 4  is administered at a dosage from about 0.4 to about 4 mg per kg of body weight of said human. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 12, wherein the Tβ 4  is administered at a dosage from about 1 to about 4 mg per kg of body weight of said human. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 13, wherein the Tβ 4  is administered parenterally. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 15, wherein the Tβ 4  is administered intravenously. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 9, wherein the Tβ 4  is synthetic Tβ 4 . 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 9, wherein said amount of Tβ 4  is sufficient to reverse in said mammal at least one member selected from the group consisting of increased cerebellar cGMP levels, increased blood malonyldialdehyde levels, decreased blood glutathione levels, increased blood PAF levels, increased blood T×β 2  levels, increased blood 6-keto-PGF 1  α levels, increased blood IL-1α levels and increased blood TNFα levels. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 1, wherein said administration of Tβ 4  reduces blood IL-1α or TNFoc levels in said mammal. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 9, wherein said administration of Tβ 4  reduces blood IL-1α or TNFoc levels in said mammal.